top five tips for writing the perfect travel diary

Over the years I've found my travel diary to be the best
souvenir of my holidays, I've written one ever since my gap year in
University, long before smartphones and social media began
capturing our every waking minute.

In our media rich age, there are lots of ways to take down your
travels from apps to tablets, dictaphones to video. I go oldschool
with my own diary, opting for a well-worn leatherbound book and a
pen my grandfather gave me, but more important than that, is
finding a method to help you takedown the sights and stories from
your own adventure.

Here are my top five tips for writing the perfect travel
diary.

1. Decide who your diary for

Is it for your uncensored eyes only or to share with family? If
you have aspirations for many people to follow your travels and
trips, you could publish your diary as a blog. I find Wix and
Wordpress two of the best platforms to publish your work on your
very own website.

2. Have a framework

What will you capture to jog your memory in years to come? Much
like a Great Rail brochure I always make a point of recording the
highlights, itinerary, hotels, route taken, flights, restaurants,
and sights from my trip. I note the date for each event, to help
with the chronology of my trip later on.

3. Bring the trip to life

Take the story down while it's fresh and colour it in later with
more leisure. Capture the sights, sounds, tastes and smells of your
trip and convey them in detail. Record conversations you've had and
any funny and unexpected moments you have along the way.

4. Take photos to enhance your story

I like to include photos to colour-in my story and capture all
those views words struggle to describe.

5. Don't just stick to words and pictures

Nothing captures the culture of your travels more than momentos
from along the journey. I collect everythting from train ticket
stubs, flyers, reciepts and packaging - and pin them to the entry
to bring it to life off the page.